A serious flaw has been discovered in WhatsApp’s view once feature.
Instead of disappearing after being viewed, the shared media can still be accessed by the recipient.
The loophole appears to work on iPhones only.
WhatsApp has become a daily companion for millions, helping us connect instantly, whether for work or personal chats. Among its many features, the “view once” option is a popular choice for sending photos, videos, and even voice messages that disappear after being viewed. But what if I told you that this feature isn’t as secure as it seems?
SurveyA serious flaw has been discovered in WhatsApp’s view once feature that puts user privacy at risk. Instead of disappearing after being viewed, the shared media can still be accessed by the recipient. It’s worth noting that the loophole appears to work on iPhones only.
Also read: WhatsApp Status updates can soon be shared directly on Instagram and Facebook: Here’s how
How users are bypassing the view once feature
Here’s how iPhone users can access view once media later:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Storage and Data.
- Tap on Manage Storage.
- Scroll down to find the contact who sent you the view once media.
- Tap on their name, select Sort by, and choose Newest First.
- The view once media will appear in the list, ready to be accessed again.
Also read: WhatsApp gets 4 new calling features: Select group call participants and more
This flaw poses a serious privacy risk, especially for users who rely on the feature to share sensitive or personal content. It’s unsettling to think that media shared with the intention of disappearing can still be retrieved.
Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, needs to address this issue quickly to restore user trust. While an official fix is expected, users should be cautious when using the view once feature for now. Avoid sharing sensitive content until the issue is resolved. Your privacy matters, and it’s essential to stay informed about such vulnerabilities.
Also read: WhatsApp introduces voice message transcriptions: Here’s how this feature works
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
